Koryzno’s announcement, made in a press release issued this evening, comes after a screening process conducted by Terry McGinn from Career Directions, the Ann Arbor firm hired to spearhead the search.

The list of six candidates was narrowed down from 27 applications received by the city before the October deadline. McGinn used six competencies discussed in a public forum and by City Council in August and September respectively.

Three of the competencies deal with leadership. McGinn said those are character, direction setting and influence. The other competencies include community policing orientation, diversity orientation and the development of subordinates.

The three administrative experiences are budgeting, labor relations and interaction with the public.

In his release, Koryzno said the candidates will be interviewed Friday at City Hall. Two different committees appointed by Koryzno, who has the charter authority to hire the chief, will be conducting separate interviews.

The first committee, which Koryzno had initially established as the only advisory committee, consists of Ann Arbor Police Chief Barnett Jones, Eastern Michigan University Public Safety Director Greg O’Dell, Garden City Police Chief Kim Scott, Ypsilanti Administrative Services Director April McGrath and Community Policing Action Council President Rod Johnson.

The committee will also review McGinn’s selection criteria.

The second committee, established after feedback from the public hearing held in August, consists of local business owner Karen Mauer, Ypsilanti Housing Commission Vice President Deborah Strong, Sharon Newton-Glen – from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Glen Sard – from the Ypsilanti Human Relations Commission and Gateway Community Council Chair Victoria James.

The second committee will discuss human-interest qualifications of the candidates.

Once a recommendation is received from the interview process, Koryzno hopes to make a selection for the position by next week.

“After a conditional offer has been accepted, and a successful background investigation has been completed, a new police chief will be announced,” Koryzno said in his release today.

The release said Koyzno is “hopeful the new chief will begin shortly after the holidays.”

The position became vacant after Matthew Harshberger, who left his position as YPD chief in May to take a similar position in Pittsfield Township.

--- Editor’s Note: This story updates a press release that ran as soon as it was received by the Citizen. The article contains more background information and details about the search for a new police chief. Please stay with the Citizen as information develops in this story.